Textile apparatus.



H. L.- BROWN. TEXTILE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION, FILED 3111.31 1911.

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Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. L.- BROWN.

TEXTILE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.31, 1911 Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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7 WITNESSES: M0 4% H. L. BROWN.- TEXTILE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED 11111.31, 1911.

Patehted Feb. 6, 1912.

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TEXTILE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAILBI, 1911.

1,016,394, I Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1911.

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11:51" 9 9 I i '7 66 Z44 A50 60 a L) H 78 .59 7 vaq a9 4- A32 A36 7 Q 95 G- J J4 9 Q a 5a L 42' x 40 204- O x Y INVENTOR wnNgsEs 49 4 a Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

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H. L. BROWN. TEXTILE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912,-

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

QmUM vwoeo: M C M gwgenfop UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. BROWN, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNoR'To BROWN SPIN-WRIGHT COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. .Y.-, A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

TEXTILE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

v To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. BROWN, of New York, N. Y., have invented certain Improvements in Textile Apparatus, of which the following description, 1n connection with the accompanying drawings, is .a specification, like numerals on the drawings designating like parts.

This invention relates to textile apparatus, including machines for spinning, twisting, winding, and analogous treatment of fibers, fibrous materials and filaments, such, for example, as cotton, wool, flax, silk and artificial silk, andis of particular utility when embodied in spinning-frames, although I contemplate the use of my improvements in any field for which they are adapted by their nature.

The primary object of my invention is to provide apparatus for spinning, twisting or winding the yarn or other material continuously, without breaking, and preferably at a-'constant, predetermined speed. thus to produce a thread of a uniform number of turns to the inch and also of uniform sizeand smoothness, of high tensile strength, and free from slugs, bunches or knots; a

further important object being to provide the necessity for repairing. hundreds of breaks in one or more weak threads running through the warp or spool, andcreat ing imperfections therein. Such simultaneous product1on of a large number of umform threads involves tllG'POSltlVG actuation at high speeds of a multiplicity of spindles gearing, an important object of my inven-[ tion is to provide a machine, such as a spin ning-frame, comprising a multiplicity of spindles, with a driving-band constructed and arranged to actuate all the spindles positively, 1n synchronism, in contradistinction to the usual methods of driving spindles by means of one or more bands or belts in frictional engagement with the'whirls of the spindles. With few exceptions, the spindles in operation throughout the world, es

timated at over one hundred million in numher, are driven by such friction bands, and are subject to the disadvantages of operation inherent in-frictionally operated actuating mechanism, including the friction due to lateral drag of the band upon the spindle, which should be confined as nearly as possible to one or two pounds when the. band is properly set, but frequently runs up to three and four pounds and sometimes to seven or eight pounds when the operative is careless, with an increment of from .00075 H. P. to .00170 H. P. per spindle for each pound of band tension added to the bands, at the ordinary speeds ranging from 4000 to 8000 turns a minute. This increase of power consumed is expended in wear upon the bearings of the spindle-blades, bolsters and other contacting parts. The tension on a band is apt to increase largely during periods of inoperation, when the bands are free to contract. At a very common tension of three pounds, to which the bands of an ordinarily well attended frame may pull at any time under heavy moisture conditions, estimating spindles to the H. P., the band tension has been estimated to consume overforty per cent. of the total power required by the whole frame.

Accordingly it is an object of high im- ,portance in my invention to eliminate the tension factor wholly, and this I accomplish preferably by gearing my improved band tangent to the spindle whirl, gear or spindle whirls, in which event the spindle' 7 runs slow; if the band leaves the. whirl, and engages with the spindle blade or a spindle part of smaller diameter than the whirl, the

spindle speeds up faster than its neighbors.

W i Other sources of variation in speed exist, all'of which are obviated bymy positively geared flexible band.

Among other important factors contributory to the attainment of the above mentioned primary object is the elimination from. the spinning operation of environmental influences of a character tending to cause variations in the speed of the spindles, among which influences the irregular absorption of Oil bythedrlving means is 1ncluded and also the absorption of atmospheric moisture, which varies rapidly often from hour to hour and causes corresponding variations in the tension of the driving bands in common use to actuate the spindles, these bands being made ordinarily of yarn or other hygroscopic or absorbent materials. changes are also induced by the lint, dust and other extraneous substances with which the bands become loaded and their weight and diameter altered, such substances sometimes finding their way also between the whirl and spindle base, if the latter is not kept properly clean, the frictionthus caused iyrareasing appreciably the power required "to run thespindle affected, thus reducing its speed, so that it will then turn out a thread weaker than those from other spindlesrunning at correct speed.

Heretofore, the exposed driving bands have been known to take up dirt and sediment to an extent necessitating an extra consumptionof .003 H. P. per spindle, which would amount to over half a horse power for a frame of average size, and the bands havev being spun, especially the higher counts,

whose structure is delicate and easily impaired."The container serves also to prevent escape of lubricant, when used, and the band is also so guarded by the container that the persons and clothing of operatives are not endangered by it when in motion as in the caseof all friction-bands in present use for spinning frames, which are left exposed.

'- My inventioncomprises the further ob-. ject ofproviding a positively acting drivingband and actuating mechanism therefor of such construction and arrangement that ex- Similar tensional or other speed .isting apparatus, such as spinning-frames,

may be equipped in the factories with but little alteration of the supporting structure,

and at a costpermitting the change to be made as a measure of economy in operation as well as to gain theniore uniform. product resulting from positive operation of all the spindles in unison at constant speed, and free from the disturbances of product, entanglements and accidents to employees due to exposed driving bands of organic material. a

A pump may also be provided.

The various features of my invention will be illustrated and described fully in the accompanying drawings and specification and pointed out in the claims, the same being in continuation of my copending application Serial No. 549,101, filed March 14, 1910, so far as said applications disclose common subject matter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a spinning frame in the construction of which my improvements have been embodied; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the spinning frame shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation looking from right to left'; Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form of end stand and related parts; Fig. 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the spindle-railshown in Fig. 1, with several spindles in place; Fig. 6 is 'a fragmentary detail :v1ew in vertical section, taken on the line mm, Fig. 2, upon an enlarged scale and showing the portion of the driving shaftcarrying the band-driving-gear; also one of the idlerpulleys; Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively fragmentary views in front elevation of bands devised for driving my improved textile apparatus; Fig. 9 is a view in' vertical, transverse section of one of'the rails, taken upon the line :z:"ac, Fig. 5, looking from left toright; the spindle being shown in elevation; Fig. 10 shows the spindle separately, in vertical section; Fig. 11. is

.a fragmentary view in plan similar to Fig.

2, showing a modified form of equipment for the driving mechanism of my improved textile apparatus.

7 In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration and description herein to enable ready and complete understanding of my improvements, the part designated bv the reference numeral 1 is a drivmg-band, and the numerals 2 designate spindles, which in accordance with my invention are constructedand arran ed to be driven positively by the drivingand, for which purposeany suitable connecting means may. be

'emplo ed. As one convenient form of construct1on,'I have showneach of the spindles as provided with a gear or whirl 3, having teeth 4 to enter-dr ving apertures 5 in the driving-band .1, (see Figs. 7 and- 8) and each mounted to rotate upon an up right base 6, (see Figs. 9 and 10), carried by a rail 7 and within which spindle bases the spindle blades 8 are supported; the gears 3 being coupled to the blades 8 by prongs 9 so that when the band 1 moves lengthwise, it rotates the whirls 3 in synchronism, and the whirls 3 rotate the blades 8 by means of the prongs 9.

The term spindle is used herein broadly as a convenient brief designation for the unitary device which receives the material to be treated in an operation analogous to spinning, twisting, winding, spooling, quilling. reeling and similar rotative operations, and the term spindle is used-without any limited technical signification, as are also the terms rail, to designate the supporting structure common to the several spindles; blade to designate that part of each spin-' dle which rotates and receives thematerial to be treated; base to designate that part of each spindle secured to the rail or support, and relatively to which the blade rotates: and whirl, to designate any part of each spindle through which the blade receives rotative actuation from the lengthwise movable band, the expression gear beiiig used frequently as a synonym for whirl where the operative relation of the cooperating act-native members renders the use of such an expression desirable. lVhen so used the term gear is inclusive of such mechanical elements as spiral gears. worms, cogs, and sprocket wheels. The term band designates a substantially continuous. lengthwise moving member, not comprising such articulated structures as a sprocket chain, link belt, orjointed'rack. The term textile apparatus is used to designate generically, machines of the class using spindle devices of all sorts, including ipinning and other frames regardless of whether the yarn, thread or other material treated is to be used eventually in looms or sewing machines, or whatever may be its destination.

In the instance selected for illustration and description by wayof example, the textile apparatus shown is a cotton-spinningframe of well-known general construction, comprising an extendedmetal girder 10, upon which is formed the rail 7, the girder being secured by bolts 12 upon standards 16, 18 and 20, which support also the overhead rolls 22 and spools 24 from which the cotton is fed, and the ring-rails 26 with their traversing plungers 28, operating levers 30, and counterweights 32, all of which may be of any well-known or suitable construction; as also the cam-shafts 33, earn 35, Worm-shaft. 137 and shipping treadle 39; and as this part of the mechanism herein shown is of the ordinary type, familiar to those skilled in the art, no further description of the same is necessary and the detailed equipment is only shown on part of the frame, the equipment of the remainder involving mere duplication, and being omitted for the sake of clearness and simplicity in the drawings. Other related parts will be described briefly hereinafter. In order to equip such a frame for actuation of the spindles positively by a band, in accordance with my invention, the spindles 2 1nay,'and preferably will, be provided with suitable whirls 3, band 1 and band-driving mechanism, and any suitable construction and arrangement of part s may be adopted for this purpose, the form of construction illustrated by way of example including spindles 2 of well-known type, in which the upper part 36 (see Figs. 9 and 10) of the base 6 has been prepared for my im proved whirl by reducing the part 36. to a plain, cylindrical bearing-surface and by boring additional parts 46, 56 and 66 for lubricating purposes, but leaving substantially intact the usual flange 76 and threaded portion 86 provided with a nut 96 by which each such spindle ordinarily secured within one of the holes 38 usually found in the rails 7. The reference numeral 39 designates a sleeve or bushing provided'preferably between the base-neck 36, and the whirl 3, being rotatable independently of both, preferably, and serving as a compound bearing member, fonwhich purpose it is shown as formed slightly longer than the whirl to equalize the bearing surfaces. Brass is one suitable material of which to form the sleeve 39. The interior of the base may likewise be left substantially unchanged. whatever the type of spindle may he, usually, the spindle herein illustrated by way of example, containing a well-known form of bolster 40, having an adjustable step 42 for the foot 44 of the spindle-blade,

and having lubricating holes 48 and 50. and

grooves 52 and 54 also for lubricating purposes. and to permit the bolster to pass the retaining pin 58 near the bottom of the base. The numeral 49 designates a stud to hold the step 42 adjustably in the bolster part 40. Such interior construction is well understood by those skilled in the art, and is not essential to my present invention, nor is any special type of spindle-blade required, that shown at, 8'beingof a common and wellknown type, tapered above andbelow, and provided with a sleeve 64 of the sort usually having a whirl formed integrally therewith, the material of the sleeve being/preferably reduced to present a collar or shoulder 68 pierced with a plurality of holes, recesses or sockets 70, preferably parallel with the axis of the spindles, to receive the driving prongs 9, so that in instances where prongs are utilized, the driving engagement of the prongs 9 with'the blade members 68 occurs at approximately the region occupied by -& 1,016,394

the ordinary Whirl, adopting the location latter is approximately that of the whirl 3,

e which has proved satisfactory in spinning when the holes 70 in the collar will register practice heretofore, although I do not rewith the prongs 9 and the blade 8 will fall gard such location as indispensable, its adopby gravity to it's step, and positive rotation tion resulting merely from the desire to of the blade 8 by the whirl 3 will ensue. 70

minimize the changes necessary for ready If desired the prongs 9 may be slightly equipment of existing spinning-frames, resilient to avoid shock during the coupling The Whirl 3 may be of any suitable mateoperation.

rial and contour, and that shown herein by "I do not claim herein specifically the con- 10 way of example comprises a plurality of struction of spindle illustrated by way of 75,

annuli 72, upon which are formed teeth 4 of example, inasmuch as certain features thereany suitable" shape, being shown herein as of form the subject matter of my co-pendhelical, oppositely inclined on adjoining aning applications Serial. Nos. 536,681 and nuli to balance the thrust, and staggered to 594,960. So also I do not claim herein speinsure continuity of engagement of a plucifically the construction of driving band so ralit-y of the teeth t with the driving walls and gears, illustrated by way of example,

74 of the aperture 78 in the band 1, at any inasmuch as certain features thereof form given time. (See Fig. 8.) The annuli 72 the subject matter of myaforesaid co-pendare preferably secured together, as by the ing application, Serial No. 536,681.

0 pins 80 indicated in Fig. 10 and the gear- The actuation of the driving-band 1 may teeth are .preferably out before hardening be accomplished by any suitable mechathe metal of which they are formed. The nism for the transmission ofpower thereto,

' genera-l effect of such a pattern is that of a and as one. convenient form of such mechaherringbone and the driving-band 1 nism I have shown an electric motor 25 may, ,and preferably will, have its driving preferably secured suitably to the end stand- 90 H apertiires arranged in correspondence with ard 16 by brackets 92 and bolts 94 (as seen the gear teeth 4-, the herringbone pattern be best in'Figs. 1, 2 and 3)--this motor having a ing more apparent to the observer in the shaft 98 upon which is mounted a member band lthan in the gear, the staggered aror gear 100 engaged directly with the band rangement of the gear-teeth 4, and their 1, so that when the motor runs at, say, separation co-axially permitting the band 1800 turns per minute, the blades 8 will be 1'to be formed with a fairly wide, continurotated positively, in unison, at say 9500 ous. medial Web 82, as seen best in Figs. 7 turns per minute and the speed. selected 7 and 8." Such. a web adds to the tensile will remain constant regardless of moisture 35 strength of the band and aids it to resist and temperature changes in the atmosphere,

distortion laterally. nor will an abnormal degree of moisture The whirls or gears 3 may be' connected cause increased friction on the bearings, and with the coupling prongs 9 in any conven accordingly if humidifiers are used in the ient fashion, and in the instance illustrated spinning-room, its atmosphere may be 40 by way of example, the prongs 9 are fitted charged with the maximum degree of moisto the gear permanently, and are of suitable ture desirable for the most perfect condidiameter to have aneasy slip-fitwithin the tion of the material under treatment, withsockets 70 of the collar-68, the blade 8 being out increasing the consumption of power readily, withdrawable from the spindle at over that actually required for spinning.

Will, while the gear 3 continues to rotate The band 1 and motor 90 may be connectwith the driving band,ready to receive the ed for driving purposes by any suitable blade Swhen the latter is replaced. means, and as one form of such connection The'coupling prongs or members9may be I have shown (see Fig. 3) the gear 100 of any suitable number, material, size, and fixed on the shaft- 98 of the motor as having arra ngement, and as one convenient conhelical teeth 106. 108 in two series to fit the struction I have shown three equidistant apertures 78 of the band 1, which may be led prongs of wire, just long-enough to insure to and from the driving-gear 100 around their continuous engagement with the collar any suitable direction devices, in accordance 68 of the blade 8' when the blade is at home with the exigencies of various installations,

55 in operative position upon. its step 42, the as for example by the use of idlers-112 jourlength ,of'the' prongs 9 being preferably naled on studs 114 mounted adjustably in .suc that ordinary co axial play of the bosses 116 in the' top 120 of boxes 122 and Whirl?) will not cause disconnection of the 124 at the respective ends of the fra'tne,

prongs 9 and collar 68, andI may so ar-' the several bearings being provided .preferrange the length-of theprongs 9 that when ably with suitable antifriction devices'l26 125 the blade 8 isdroppedinto place, the under. and withfastening nuts 128. I face of the collar 68 will be engaged with I prefer, in accordance with another imthe upper ends of theprongs 9; and'their portant possible object of my invention, to friction against the collar 68 will initiate provide-fora constant environment for the 65 'rotationof the blade 8 until the speed of the band 1 Whatever its character, and for the 1R" whirls 3, by inclosing them so'that they will also be guarded from contact with the persons and clothing of operatives. This inclosure of the band 1 and whirls 3 may be effected by any suitable means, and asone convenient form of construction for this purpose I have shown a container trough 130 of suit-able material, preferably rolled sheet metal for the sake of lightness and strength, extended along the upper surface of the rail 7 and having apertures at intervals, as at 132 (see-Fig. 9) to pass the spindle-bolsters 6, the latter being secured in place by the suitable means, such as the usual retaining nuts 96, while gaskets or washers 136, 138 of metal, such as iron or lead, or non-metallic material, such as leather, may be provided, if desired to aid in making a tight joint between the spindle 2, container 130 and rail 7.

The use of a metal band 1, as my preferred form of positively acting driving hand, permits me toexercise a wide choice of methods for lubrication of my spindles, inasmuch as it is no longer necessary to exclude the lubricant from ,access to the driving-band, but on the contrary free lubrication; of the metal band is a desideratum, and as one convenient mode of lubrication to meet the changed conditions I have devised a novel system which I will now describe.

Briefly stated, I prefer to-provide with lubricant the space inclosed with the band 1, whirls 3, and related co-acting spindle parts, and any suitable means maybe adopted for this purpose. As one convenient form of such means, I may introduce a fluid lubricant, such as oil, to the container 130, whence it will flow through the spindle ports 46, to the spindle step 42, and the oil may be of a depth to reach one or more of the moving parts, such as the lower edge of the band 1, and as the latter moves at the rate of several thousand feet a minute, the oil will be sprayed over the co-acting surfaces of the band 1 and whirls 3 effecting perfect lubrication thereof.

I may provide the base 6 with ports 56 and 66 located suitably to enable the oil which is drawn up from the step 42 by rotation of the spindle blades 8 to gain access to the bearing between the bolster parts 36 and the bushings 39,and whirls 3 rotating thereon, and may provide the bushings 39 and whirls 3 with ports 76 and 86 respectively, through which oil may be driven by centrifugal force, the tendency of these rotating parts being to suck up oil from between the blade 8 and bolster 6, and also from between the whirl 3, bushing 39 and bolster part 36 and throw it out against the band 1 thus automatically setting up a con- .stantlyl recurrent circulation over-all the bearings, and the lengthwise movement of the band 1 completes the distributive action, which extends tothe driving gear 100 and idlers 112. If desired, the idlers 112 and motor shaft 98 may be provided with anti-friction devices such as the rolls 126.

A suitable cover 1 10 is preferably pro-- vided for the container 130 and as one convenient form of cover, I haveshown an inverted U-shaped trough similar to the container proper, and having apertures 112 to pass the spindle-blades 8 and collars 68, the collars 68 ordinarily standing wholly or partly below the lower edge of the cover as shown in Fig. 9 to throw off any oil which may creep up on the spindle blade This cover 140 may be secured in place by suitable fastening means, such as the bolts 144, or spring clips 244, and may conveniently serve as the support for suitable retaining means, such as the turn-buttons 146 to be engaged with the collars 68 on the spindleblades 8, to prevent displacement of the blades by accident, or when the bobbins 1 18 are being dofled. The cover PLO-may also be provided with suitable guiding devices, such as the ribs 150 secured by screws 151 (see Figs. 5 and 9) serving as one form of means to prevent undue outward movement of the band 1 away from whirls 3 and out of mesh with the teeth 1. At each end of the container in order to make an oil tight joint for the end boxes respectively I prefer to provide a trough shaped casting 152 having a flange 153 coming opposite a similar flange 154 upon theend box, these flanges being secured together by bolts 1.55. The trough 130 enters the open free end of the member 152, the material of each part being reduced preferably somewhat to avoid undue thickness at the joint. The casting 152 may be secured to the rail 7 as by the bolt-shown at 156 in Fig. ,1, and I may provide one or more idlers 157 upon studs 158 in this casting port-ionof the container, as shown in Fig. 2.

Considerable oil will be carried by the band into the end box, andI may and prefterably do provide vents therefor, by plugs 159. One of these vents can be seen most readily in Fig. 6 directly under a circular flange 160, which serves as a retaining wall for an anti-friction bearing 161 with which the end of the motor shaft 98 is preferaby provided. The shaft 98 is also provided, preferably, with means to actuate the mechanism which operates the ring rail, and asone convenient form of device for this purpose, I have shown a bevel gear 261 upon the shaft meshing with a vertical bevel gear 162 upon a shaft 163 mounted in bearing 164- having a pinion 165 in engagement with a gear 166, which has upon a sprocket chain 168 withanother sprocket 78 registered exactly in the overlapping I wheel 169 upon 'worm shaft 170 which meshes with a gear 171 upon the shaft 33 which operates thecam35 herein'before described, to raise'and lower the ring rail 26,

5 in a manner too well known to require further description.

The gear 166 meshes with a gear 172 best seen in Fig. 3, which actuates the gearing 174 (see Fig. 1),, by which the drawing down 10 rolls 22 are actuated, this arrangement be,-

in'g of well known construction andnot re quirin-g detailed description herein. A similar gear 272 is also actuated by .the large -on the front of -the spinning frame.

In rder' toconden'se the operating parts of th frame as much as possible, I may,

and prefer to, utilize a modified form of actuating mechanism for the ring rail and the drawing down rolls, the same being shown in Fig. 4, and comprising a worm 180 upon the motor shaft, 198 in mesh with a Worm-wheel 181-upon a counter shaft 182 carried by the end-stand'183, this shaft being provided with a gear 184 having helical .teethof the type shown on the gear 100, suitable to cooperate with-a band 185, run

' ning to a gear 186 forming part of thetrain which actuates the drawing down rolls. A gear 286 is also provided on the shaft 182, and is engaged with 'a-gear 187 having on itshub, a gear 287 with spiral teeth engaged with'a band 188 running to agear 189 which .actu'ates the drawing'down roll train upon the'other side of the spinningframe, in reversed direction to that already described.

AL gear 190 on the worm shaft 191 which operatesth e cam for the ring rail motion isv shown toward the bottom of Fig. 4, and is'engaged with a gear, not shown, upon the shaft 182 behind the worm-wheel 181. Idlers 195-p'rovide oneconvenient form of means for taking up the driving bands just described;

Thenumeral 1900 designates the electric motor used preferably .for driving ,the

frame. I have ShOWIl'lIl Fig. 8 means for con- 6 necting theband, such connection being 5 parts, so thatthe inclined driving surfaces 74 will register properly, and the shoul-.. .ders 79, the latter being parallel with the line 95 of movement of the band: The numeral 80 gear 166 to operate the drawing-down. rolls either direction by the gear 100, andwill in turn serve to drive gears or whirls 3 in either direction and the spindles therewith.

Any suitable means may be provided to furnish .fiuid lubricant under pressure, as for example the storage tank 196 which may beprovided with a rotary pump 198 connected by a pipe 199 with the trough as at 200, and also with the end box as at 201, the tank 196 having suitable conduits 202 connected by couplings 203 with the spindles which may have apertures 201 to permit the entrance of the lubricant by gravity or under pressure from the pump 198. The pump may be driven in any suitable manner as for'example by means of a connection 205 with the rolls 22.

I do not claim herein specifically the construction of lubricatin apparatus illustrated by way of examp e, inasmuch as the same forms the subject matter of my c0- pending applications Serial Nos. 436,772 and 549,101. vAt 210 I have shown a switch for controlling the. motor to which conductors may be led in conduits 211, 212, 213. v

Where it is possible to carry the band around direction pulleys or idlers of. relatively largediameter I prefer to do so on account of the relatively low-speed of pulleys, and in Fig. 11 I have shown sufficient portions of a frame to permit a ready understanding of the construction, arrangement and operation ofapparatus embodying four direction pulleys, the'diameter of these being approximately fifteen inches as I have found that size satisfactory in practice, the

band conforming to that circumference without deterioration at the high speed of three thousand feet per minute.

The general construction of the frame shown partly in Fig. 11 may, and preferably will, be substantiallylike that already illustrated and described with reference to the frame shown in Figs. 1 to 10, and'accordingly I have shown only the end-stands with their related parts, and connected portions of the spindle rail and the container for the driving band, which I will now. describe.

It is desirable that the motor and direction pulleys shall have as little extension.

as possible beyond the end-stands, and onthe other hand that the number of spindles usually "in such frames shall not be diminished by the. equipment with my im;

provements, and accordingly for the purpose of meeting these requirements, I place the direction pulleys 301, 302, 303 and 304 as near as possible to the spindles 305, 306, 307,

308 nearest the corner of the frame at which therespective direction pulleys or idlers are situated. In the instance illustrated, the distance between the first spindle 305 at the lower right hand .corner of the frame, and

"the adjacent idler 301, is ample, and the bearing 309 for that idler may be supported from the inner side of the end-stand 313 with which the boss 315 may be cast as an integral structure, the stud which constitutes the bearing axis being set therein in any suitable fashion. So also, the idler 302 indicated by dotted lines in the upper right hand corner of F ig. 11 will be supported similarly at the other side of the end-stand 313, and theAband'131 will be carried across upon these pulleys the peripheries of which are tangent to that part of the run of the band which extends along the rail 316 in operative relation with the spindles upon latter, to which spindles I have given for the sake of convenience the reference numeral 317 except thosealready numbered 305, 306, 307, 308. The band thus arranged may be actuated by any suitable mechanismfand as one convenient form of mechanism for this'purpose I have'shown, and prefer to utilize, a prime mover, having a rotary mem- (her which can be geared directly to the driving band, and for this purpose I have shown an electric motor 390 having a shaft 391 provided with a gear 392 of the type already described with reference to the motor 7 gent to the idlers 301, 302 as illustrated in Fig. 11, inasmuch as this arrangement permits the direction of rotation of these bands and spindles to be reversed readily according as the band 131 isplaced toward the front of the gear 392 or at the rear thereof,

and the speed of actuation of theband may likewise be changed readily by changing the gear 392 for one of larger or smaller diameg .,ter,o r a plain driving pulley of large diameter may be used advantageously at times, owing to the large surface engaged frictionally. For the, purpose of facilitating such changes by slackening the band, and

'for the general purpose of controlling the tension of the band, I prefer to provide suitable means of any convenient sort. One convenient type of de'vice for that purpose com rises an arrangement of one or more of the idlers so that they can be moved substantially in parallelism with the operative run "of the band, and as a convenient construction to permit such adjustment, I have shown the idlers 303 and 304 as mounted upon studs 321 carried by sliding bearing blocks 323 connected by a cross bar 325, preferably, so that the a'djustive movement of these idlers will be uniform and in synchronism with each other. To maintain the alinement of the adjustive movement with the line of movement of the band 131, I have shown guides 327' to receive the blocks 323, these guides being shown as carried by a member 318 which may be constituted by the bottom of a casing 319 east integrally with the end-stand'314 of the frame. I prefer to provide also suitable means to place the suitable means may be provided for this purpose. As one such means, I have shown a screw shaft 330 rotatable by means of a hand under a yielding tension, and any hand-wheel 332 within a. bearing post 334 extending upward from the casing 319, and passing through the member 325 at 335, the screw shaft 330 being provided with a coil spring 336 interposed between the portion 335 and a nut 337 engaged with the threaded portion of the shaft 330. Slideways 338 are shown to prevent rotation of the nut upon the shaft when the latter is turned by the hand-wheel 332. Rotation of the handwheel toward the right will therefore draw the nut 337 toward the operator, and will take up the slack in the band 131, the spring 336 holding the band at the desired tension, according to the amount of rotation of the shaft 330 by the hand-wheel 332.

Preferably the casing 319 will be eX tended as at 329, to inclose the inner portion 'of the idlers 303 and 304, and the casing may have gateways 340 lying upon the rail 316,

and serving to make a suitable joint with the trough 342 which I prefer to provide as a container for the lubricant used upon the band 131, and spindle whirls 347, the trough having preferably also a cover 343 which completes the inclosure of the actuating parts of the spindles, while a cover 345 serves to completethe inclosure of the idlers.

303 and 304, Similar covers 345 and 348 are" provided to complete the inclosure of the idlers 302, etcl, in connection with the endstand 313.

It will be observed that the end spindles 305, 306, 307, 308 are situated in the gateways 340, and the portion of the cover at this region willitherefore preferably have apertures 349 to pass these spindles,

The form of spinning-frame illustratedin Fig. 11 may be constructed with but slight change in the patterns of the end-stands and substantially without any change in the remainder of the spinning-frame, except the elimination of parts such as the tin drum,

driving bands and their related parts no longer required after equipment with my improved positive ba-nd drive, and; the operation of theform of mechanism illustrated in Fig. 11 is substantially identical with that-heretofore described with reference to the mechanism described with respect to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive.

It will be noted from Figs. l, 2, 7 and 8 that the band is driven by engagement of the teeth 106, 108 with the inner walls of the bands driving apertures 7 8, but the band drives the whirls 3 by engagement of the outer walls 74 of the bands driving apertures, and thus the Wear is distributed, an important factor in the economical operation of my improved textile apparatus.

Having illustrated and described my invention thus fully, and suitable means by which the same may be put into practice I Wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to'the specific materials and constructional forms. selected for illustration and, description herein by Way of example, nor do I limit myself in general otherwise than as set forth in .the claims, read in con.- nection with this'specification.

hat I claim as new, and desiri to secure America, is

by Letters Patent 'of the United States of 1., Apparatus for treatment of fibrous inaterials and filaments, such as for spinning cotton; said apparatus comprising a multiplicity of rotatable spindles to receive and treat said materials, and an endless flexible,

metal band, flat throughout its length, and geared with said spindles to drive t em positively. a

,2. Apparatus of the as described, for treating fibrous 'materi s and filaments; said apparatus comprisirg a plurality of spindles provided respectively with actuating members comprising each a plurality of peripheral actuating projections; a support for said spindles; and a metallic band r0- vided with means to engage said rojections successively, and to be engag progressively with successlve portions of each actuating projection, said progressive engagement with each projection continuing until engagement has been initiated with a succeeding project-ion on the same actuating member, to rotate said spindles positively substantially-as described. 3. Apparatus of the class described to treating fibrous materials and filaments; 56

said apparatus comprising a pluraIity of spindles; a support therefor; a metal band constructed and arranged to operate said spindles positively; actuating means onsaid band; and means to surround said band, 60

spindles and actuating mea'nsjat the region of operativeen agement therebetween to prevent escape o lubricant, and also to'prevent injury to operatives by escape of said band in the event of accidental displacement thereof; substantially as described. 4. Apparatus of the class described; said apparatus comprising a plurality of spindles,

and members on, and to rotate with, said spindles, said members being provided respectively with peripheral teeth; a support for said spindles; a metal band, fiat throughout its length, constructed and arranged to engage said teeth positively and progiese sively, to rotate said spindles; and means to 5 lubricate said operatingparts; substantially I as described.

Signed at- New York in the county and State of New York this 30th day of Jancopies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents,

' a Washington, D. O I 

